June 10, 2022 | By Bronwen Largier
Oaks Cypress Lakes Resort and Elysia Wellness Retreat delivered a festival style event called “The Outside” for the management consulting firm, which saw over 600 of their upcoming leaders and high achievers stay at the resort each week through May.
The event featured a huge Sperry Tent erected on the hotel’s golf course, which housed the plenary stage and communal tables for meals.
“We are thrilled to have finally returned to face-to-face events in such an impactful way,” said PwC Australia partner Lawrence Goldstone.
“It was incredibly rewarding to bring together Senior Associates and Managers from around the country for an immersive learning program. The outstanding team and facilities across Oaks and Elysia provided an ideal hub for participants to connect and collaborate, alongside a purpose-built festival site, to deliver an immersive daytime experience and night-time entertainment with live performances, food trucks and fire pits.”
Oaks Hotels is reporting “overwhelming positive feedback” from the event’s attendees.
“It was an absolute honour to host ‘The Outside’ for the PwC team, and to work side-by-side to deliver health, nutrition and wellness sessions as part of their holistic approach to professional development,” said Oaks Cypress Lakes general manager Shaun O’Bryan.
“From a health and nutrition immersion delivered by Elysia’s Chef Corryne Parkhill to sunrise yoga, Tai chi and boxing sessions led by our facilitators, to a menu influenced by local producers and Indigenous ingredients to preparing daily lunch boxes for 600 people, the scale of this event was a fantastic opportunity to work with a client with vision and to showcase our event capabilities, accommodation and wellness offering.”
The resort is set on 300 acres, surrounded by the Hunter Valley’s famous wineries. The accommodation offering is made up of one, two and three bedroom villas and has several other event spaces including a 364m2 convention centre, the 435m2 Venusta Centre and an 800m2 lakeside marquee. Several pools and tennis courts are also located onsite.